World Wide - Legal Action 4 Animal Rights

Several tons of elephant ivory have been found concealed in a freight container on the island of Zanzibar. The seizure was made on Tuesday

According to reports, the ivory was stuffed into plastic sacks containing sea shells – each weighing 50 kgs. The total weight seized has not been announced, but Zanzibar police officials said it amounted to several tons. Reports say two people – a clearing agent and businessman have been arrested.

The seizure comes amid a crackdown by Tanzanian authorities (Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania) aimed at disrupting what is described as a rampant poaching and ivory trafficking crisis in the country.

Last week Tanzanian police arrested three Chinese businessmen who were found in possession of 706 pieces of ivory and the week before that, a roadblock found 89 tusks concealed in the boot of a car.